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Web pages can use the Geolocation API directly if the web browser implements it. Historically, some browsers could gain support via the Google Gearsplugin[2] but this was discontinued in 2010 and the server-side API it depended on stopped responding in 2012.[3]

The Geolocation API is ideally suited to web applications for mobile devices such as personal digital assistants (PDA) and smartphones. However, there is not yet[when?] widespread support on such platforms due to the wide variety of devices and mobile browsers, which usually lack a plugin architecture. On desktop computers, the W3C Geolocation API works in Firefox since version 3.5, Google Chrome,[4]Opera 10.6,[5]Internet Explorer 9.0,[6] and Safari 5. On mobile devices, it works on Android (firmware 2.0 +), iOS, Windows Phone and Maemo. The W3C Geolocation API is also supported by Opera Mobile 10.1 — available for Android and Symbian devices (S60 generations 3 & 5) since November 24, 2010.[7]

Google Gears provided geolocation support for older and non-compliant browsers, including Internet Explorer 7.0+ as a Gears plugin, and Google Chrome which implemented Gears natively. It also supported geolocation on mobile devices as a plugin for the Android browser (pre version 2.0) and Opera Mobile for Windows Mobile. The Google Gears Geolocation API is incompatible with the W3C Geolocation API.

Though the implementation is not specified, W3C Geolocation API is built on extant technologies, and is heavily influenced by Google Gears Geolocation API. Example: Firefox's Geolocation implementation[8] uses Google's network location provider.[9]

Google Gears Geolocation works by sending a set of parameters that could give a hint as to where the user's physical location is to a network location provider server, which is by default the one provided by Google (code.l.google.com).[10] Some of the parameters are lists of sensed mobile cell towers and Wi-Fi networks, all with sensed signal strengths. These parameters are encapsulated into a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) message and sent to the network location provider via HTTP POST. Based on these parameters, the network location provider can calculate the location. Common uses for this location information include enforcing access controls, localizing and customizing content, analyzing traffic, contextual advertising and preventing identity theft.[11]

Simple JavaScript code that checks if the browser has the Geolocation API implemented and then uses it to get the current position of the device. this code creates a function which can be called on html using <body onload="geoFindMe()">:

functiongeoFindMe(){if(navigator.geolocation){navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(success,error,geo_options);}else{alert("Geolocation services are not supported by your web browser.");}functionsuccess(position){varlatitude=position.coords.latitude;varlongitude=position.coords.longitude;varaltitude=position.coords.altitude;varaccuracy=position.coords.accuracy;//do something with above position thing e.g. belowalert('I am here! lat:'+latitude+' and long : '+longitude);}functionerror(error){alert("Unable to retrieve your location due to "+error.code+" : "+error.message);};vargeo_options={enableHighAccuracy:true,maximumAge:30000,timeout:27000};}